Trip and Situation

The next day, I began planning my trip, fully aware that I wouldn't be able to cover all of India but determined to visit the states that would rise for the independence war in 1857.

My route was clear: first, I would head directly to Travancore, then to Mysore, followed by two pivotal places of uprising—Nargund and Shorapur. From there, I would proceed to Hyderabad, then Singhbum (Jharkhand), where tribal revolts were brewing. Next, I planned to travel to Gwalior (MP) to visit two key locations, then to Gujarat, Sindh, Bikaner, Punjab, and Bundelkhand (Jhansi). After that, I'd make my way to Kashmir and then to the critical regions of Awadh and Bihar, where I would spend ample time exploring the many places that needed my attention. Finally, I would return to Delhi, with plans to visit Assam, Sindh, and Nepal next year. (Readers, please comment if I've missed any important locations—I'm not a historian!)

I shared my itinerary with my father, who helped refine my plans further. With four months left until my trip, which would commence in 1847,

I also decided to help Lux expand its business during this time. Relying on a single product was too risky, so I introduced Sufiyan to perfume production and shared methods for making face powder. This diversification would greatly enhance our financial stability.

I also discussed developing a trading company while I was in Travancore and Gujarat. Establishing such a company could give us independent connections, reducing our reliance on the British East India Company.

I suggested exploring the possibility of developing an intelligence organization abroad, but Sufiyan rejected the idea, citing tight finances and the risks of hastiness. Instead, he agreed to focus on strengthening ties with various tribes and expanding our control in areas where the British were absent, knowing that full British control only came after the events of 1857.

Time flew, and soon it was already time for my trip. A long royal caravan accompanied me, including some British soldiers who seemed to be keeping an eye on the royal family. To reach Travancore, we would first travel to Mumbai, where we'd take a ship. The journey to Mumbai alone would take at least a month of non-stop travel, followed by two weeks to reach Travancore.

Mumbai didn't play a significant role in the 1857 revolt, so I didn't plan to stay long. However, I considered potential skirmishes there, as it was a vital hub for British supply lines to Europe. Disrupting their connections could delay reinforcements and provide a tactical advantage. With Sufiyan accompanying me, we would plan our course of action as we traveled.

The trip was anything but enjoyable—five weeks in an uncomfortable cart made me start to regret being reborn in the past. Yet, it highlighted the urgent need for proper roads. I planned to ask my father for funding to construct better roads throughout mughal empire and to persuade the leaders of various princely states that will take part in revolution to develop major routes for troop and supply transportation.

During the journey to Mumbai, I witnessed the widespread misery of the people—a truly eye-opening experience. The more I traveled, the deeper my hatred for the British grew, for what they had inflicted upon our nation. I saw not just despair, but the tragic reality that countless children were dying without even the dignity of a proper burial. Our rulers—those who claimed to protect and serve—stood idly by, paralyzed as their fellow countrymen withered away in suffering. It was gut-wrenching to behold such cruelty.

In that moment, I made a solemn vow: the British would pay for their heinous actions! I would not be a passive observer, like Gandhi, who accepted oppression. I promised myself that I would ensure those noblemen in Buckingham Palace faced the same reality as our people's suffered—living in poverty and hunger, unsure if they would survive another day.

I would make them pay.

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